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3four3 Turns 2! Thank You Guys!

When I first started, the idea was really just to get my thoughts on paper, flesh them out and refine them over time. I thought I would systematically deconstruct all the issues I saw with the sport in the U.S., and methodically build up solutions. Surely that would be educational for me and for any readers who stumbled across the blog.

But what ended up happening many times was different. The site kind of became an outlet of sorts for the almost daily stress caused by what I would read, hear, and witness out there. I found it therapeutic.

But as I reflect, I think those pieces have just as much, if not more, value.

Let me explain.

As I read over my first ever post, I can’t help but nod my head that the fundamental issue with soccer in America is education.

But what education? Many critique that I only talk about the problems and offer no solutions. Well two years, and 100 posts later, I think they’re right in a certain respect. Where are my solutions? Where is this so-called education?

After all, when one says their goal is to educate, shouldn’t they be offering traditional “how-to” articles?

How to develop soccer players?

How to fix college soccer?

How to identify “true quality”?

… among a thousand other how-to’s …

I get it. You want a systematic and specific – almost scientific – series that solves each issue. Instead of talking about the problem that is 2+2, you want me to just say 4! Well I want to do more of that too. Just understand that it’s not enough, and it won’t solve the ‘education problem’.

It’s just not that simple!

I could develop my own “Coerver-coaching style” videos, but that won’t turn a coach or your kid into something special. Sure it can help raise their levels, but it won’t fabricate “special”.

Similarly, I could attempt to breakdown some professional or collegiate coach, or attempt to show why Player X is greater than Player Y. But it won’t matter. It will have little impact on those who most need educating – especially because I’ll be going against everything they hold true.

Don’t get me wrong, structure matters. However, it is both people’s mentality and lack of passion that holds them back. The latter I can’t influence, but I can try with the former.

Looking over much of the archives here, it seems like that is what I’ve been attempting to transmit. A change of mentality!

Because it is that which leads most astray.

Why would someone:

think that Dempsey is world class?

think possession isn’t important (or overrated or whatever)?

think Barcelona should have a ‘plan B’?

conclude Freddy Adu’s failure is due to debuting too early?

be vehemently against so-called ‘diving’?

think ‘no big deal’ to our U-20s failing to qualify?

conclude Bob Bradley’s national team pool consisted of the best in the country?

Ok. So people just don’t know any better. Unfortunately, it’s not a simple matter of trying to tell them why they’re wrong because you can’t. You just can’t prove anything!

It’s one mentality (or philosophy) against another.

So how can progress be made you ask? Well, by providing people a window into the ‘other’ mentality. The Mexican, Central and South American, and some European philosophies.

Most Americans haven’t really been exposed to that, let alone absorbed it. Their soccer consumption is overwhelmingly American and English commentary, which obviously reflects and reinforces those cultures. Sure they may read this or that article on Ajax, Barcelona, or whatever, but that doesn’t immerse them with the foreign mentality on a consistent basis. Those articles – and many can be quite good – only provide the view from 30,000 feet.

So unless one is multi-lingual or well integrated with another culture, what kind of global understanding and appreciation of the sport do they really have? I’m not saying they can’t, but it’s gotta be tough. Could they use more than their American and English media bubble? No doubt about it!

Just look at what mentality and philosophies are constantly being consumed. Is it from those that consistently pump out ‘world class’? What mentality is likely the better one for soccer? The Spanish, Brazilian, Italian, Argentine, German et al., or the American and English?

Interesting right?

So it’s no wonder so many people share the ideas listed above. That’s what they’ve been consuming from perceived soccer authorities. They really haven’t been exposed to the other side!

In many cases, I think that’s what 3four3’s trying to provide.

Two years later, I feel we’ve barely scratched the surface.

That’s because saying people’s mentality must change, is a kin to saying their culture must change. So if we’re in a culture war, then of course it’s going to be tough – if not close to impossible. Try convincing people to embrace so-called ‘diving’, or that a coach they believe to be elite is actually a donkey, or that tremendous potential world-class talents are turned down in favor of junk. It’s like climbing Mount Everest I tell you! It’s like trying to convert a non-soccer person to the beautiful game. Yeah … it’s that difficult!

But having you guys reading and contributing helps enormously! The value you generate, not just here, but around the web and offline is HUGE! Without you, I’m just some crazy soccer guy talking to himself and scratching his head thinking; “How could Marvell Wynne be a professional soccer player?”

Thank You Guys, and prepare yourself for a lot more; because we’ve only just begun!

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Comments

Congratulations! It is great to have a source to go to who sees soccer in a different way, right or wrong, it is a breath of fresh air to see a different outlook where if a player doesn’t have the technical quality and the soccer brain they shouldn’t even be btohered with, it’s such a simple concept but it is spot on and I wish more people would read your blog to see how simple the reasons you give are. To be honest I had many thoughts and ideas the same as you but I never truly understood why I had these gut instincts other than just seeing a pattern as I watch games and players, but someone with your experience who can give truly deep analysis and real life examples is excellent to see. I recommend this site to absolutely everyone I know.

You have turned this site into one of the most important sources of soccer theory, education, and philosophy in the US.

Improving and broadening the education of the soccer fans in this country is a noble goal. For the US to actually improve as a soccer nation, this education of the game beyond the US/England corridor is necessity and a large part of the reason why Jurgen Klinsmann is a great hire. This is a global game and we live in a country that is probably the most diverse in the world, this should only play to our advantage when it comes to a sport that is too often a victim of secondary nationalism. Embrace the diversity of our population, enhance our understanding of the varying global influences, and you are on the right track.

While I happen to agree with much of the theory/content, overall you are clearly presenting an alternative point of view, and regardless of the topic, the alternative pov is integral to evolving the discussion. Thank you for that.

I would take issue with your seeming non-chalant attitude towards “diving” – while it might be a part of the game, the technology is now there to decisively say whether or not someone dove/embellished in an attempt to garner a favorable decision. Punishment should be retroactive, harsh and involve money and time on the bench. The game only stands to improve from better enforcement….kind of like goal-line technology. If you can enhance the fidelity of the game, you have to.

Keep up the good work and judging by the state of things you’ll be in business for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, you can be a voice of reason and progress helping to make meaningful changes for the game in the USA.

Gary,
Great “Statement of Intent”!! Your identification of the existing soccer community and its spokesman as targets for evaluation and re-education is particularly insightful. As someone who has learned soccer second hand (never played)– I do a lot of reading and watching — I am constantly amazed at the ridiculous statements that some of our US soccer gurus make when judged by the opinions/thinking of soccer experts from other countries. Our over-reliance on outdated English thinking and on US “exceptionalism” has made us a backwater of soccer development. It’s time that we were dragged into the global mainstream. BTW I would love to hear other folks opinion of how East Asian (Japan and South Korea) soccer development has progressed relative to ours.

Just got hooked on the site and love it. I’d love to chip in some info about GK’s and definitely see more about the position! Tactics are great and the discussion about our youth soccer system is making me yearn for more. Keep it up.

Hi Ali and welcome aboard!
I have to be upfront and say I’m no expert on GK’s. I think I’ve played that position a grand total of two times when I was 10, and I’ve never tried to educate myself in it. Sure I can identify general differences in quality, but it’s the nuances I’m not versed in.
Hopefully, I can find us a goal keeping badass to contribute to the site.

Congrats on reaching two years! I have learned more from you in one year than I did my previous 10. You have given me the confidence to chose the correct soccer path for my 14 year old son. Your knowledge has been indispensable.

Gary — Like you, I’ve been scribbling thoughts and observations in MS Word for years. Use it to share w/my son. I used to read posts on SoCal Soccer Forum, but found that mindless babble. Your site is a breath of fresh air. Your posts are thought provoking as well as comments who provide their own take. I hope to see you continue on as it gives me a conduit to vent my frustration and at times get a laugh.

Topics I’d love to see: getting more Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean players into National Team pool; does a promising player have more chance to be discovered by a European team (e.g., the kid from LA Samba) than MLS (I think that’s the case); report card on USDA; is there a soccer development S-Curve?; and probably several others if I had the time.

I think part of reason I like your site is you and I are probably same: like to break things down and look for root causes.

Lalo, your arrival to the site has brought tremendous value! Your comments have been sophisticated and show clear signs of a person who knows a thing or two about this futbol stuff. 🙂

Awww, the good ol SoCal Soccer Forum. Dominic has done a good job providing a place where parents can come together to exchange info, ideas, and of course the back and forth “my team is better than yours”. It’s all good, but there are so many misguided notions. Among other things, what’s tough for me is when a U12 parent, who has never played and whose biggest exposure has been through their pre-pubescent kid, thinks they’ve pretty much got it all figured out. I’ve taken a break from posting there as well. I just come across as an arrogant prick when trying to correct people.

Thank you for the suggested topics … I’m sure we’ll get to all of them!
But quickly … as of this writing, players with true quality are FAR better off getting out of this country. Oh man you just got me all worked up thinking about it Lalo! Thanks a lot!

Congratulations on reaching this milestone, Gary! You have done a great job teaching us and getting us to discuss this together. May you continue to build an online community for intelligent soccer in the US; maybe someday it will emerge offline, as well?

I’m with Henry, if you could ever get a podcast going that’d be brilliant! You would also have no competition that I can think of, all other soccer podcasts are more straight facts and news stories, etc. Not sure if it is possible but I know there would be a lot of listeners if it worked out.

However, there is really not a show that covers the topics as in depth as well as your blog does and thus you have a niche that could be filled. World football daily touches on some of these topics but only about the time the the USMNT is about to play or has played and then the wonder why they have the issues they have. They are also based down in SoCal.

I am a mom to an 8 year-old who, without any influence from me or my husband, has become obsessed with soccer. (We’ve had to put rules in place about how long he can kick a ball against his bed at night after we’ve said good-night and turned off the light.) We weren’t soccer people before he came along. So we’re just doing our best to learn what we can and follow his lead while still trying to stay a step ahead of him. Much of what a read and watch about soccer in the US doesn’t match what I see in my kid. He needs conditioning, good coaching, and lots of playing time, all while keeping his love and passion for the game as strong as it already is. As parents we are struggling to find enough of what he needs…

Your site is helping us/me a lot. You are speaking the language of grass-roots, born from nothing but the love of the game, and I am listening.

I think if you start creating coaching seminars and charge for attendance you will raise your status to a higher level. After all your blog/twitter seems like your passion and full-time job. Get paid for what you love to do well.